How to Prepare an Apartment for a Child

Usually, the stage of preparing an apartment for a baby begins immediately after the pregnant woman finds out about her pregnancy. A major renovation should only be done if living conditions are completely unsuitable for a baby. In most cases, minor adjustments are sufficient to make the apartment more convenient and, most importantly, safe.

Step 1. Renovation

In most cases, the renovation stage can be skipped. New wallpapers with children's designs are not a necessity. However, for practicality, you can paint the walls with paint containing special safe components.

Also, check whether the ventilation system works and if there is any moisture or mold in the corners. These are the first enemies of a newborn. Eliminate all possible sources of drafts. This includes not only windows and doors but also outlets—use plug covers, check the floor for air leaks.

Step 2. Furniture

The less furniture in a child’s room, the better. Minimalism helps new mothers get rid of dust quickly and easily. When choosing a baby crib, prefer solid wood models—they are eco-friendly and safe.

For storage systems, follow the rule: drawers at the bottom, open shelves at the top. This way, a child won’t have access to potentially dangerous items, while everything necessary for the mother will always be within reach.

Step 3. Household Appliances

Household appliances help new mothers save their most valuable resources—time and energy. A washing machine and vacuum cleaner will now be used several times more often than before the arrival of a child.

Another indispensable helper is a dishwasher. Modern models with a "Hygiene+" function use hot water, which ensures that cleaning agents are completely rinsed away and most bacteria and viruses die. It’s nearly impossible to achieve this with manual dishwashing.

Step 4. Safety Essentials

It’s nearly impossible to make a home safe for a small child without using simple inventions. Stock up on corner guards for furniture, drawer locks, cabinet locks, outlet covers, and door stoppers that prevent doors from slamming shut and pinching fingers.

If your apartment has glass doors, glass kitchen cabinets, or coffee tables, it’s advisable to cover them with special film. This prevents glass from shattering into sharp shards if it breaks.

Step 5. Cleaning

A deep clean should be done just before the baby arrives. But throughout the first year of life, cleaning will have to be much more frequent than before. Therefore, it’s better to have fewer dustpans in the child’s room. Replace heavy, thick curtains with washable blinds and a plush carpet with a thin mat that can be easily washed. Ideally, the floor covering should withstand frequent wet cleaning.